Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: There is increasing talk that the Sabres will trade goalie Ryan Miller, and it could happen before the Olympic Break. The goalie market is limited though. The Blues are mentioned, but GM Doug Armstrong continually backs Jaroslav Halak. The Wild could be another landing spot as Josh Harding is out indefinitely due to MS complications. If the Sabres are asking for a Miller is reasonable, they might be interested. The asking price could be a player, prospect and pick.

Capitals GM George McPhee may be feeling the heat and has been calling GMs to see if he can make a deal to turn his team around. He doesn’t have a contract beyond this season. Martin Erat and Michal Neuvirth have asked for trades.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney is getting calls on Radim Vrbata. The Coyotes won’t know what they want to do with him until they find out if he wants to re-sign or if they are out of the playoff race by the trade deadline.

The Canadiens have been putting Brian Gionta’s name out there.

The Flames have talked with Mike Cammalleri to see if he wants to re-sign.

The Olympic roster freeze is Friday February 7th at 11:59 pm:

“A lot of teams are nervous,” a league executive told Insider Trading. “I really think there are some teams that are in playoff races that want to make changes. You have to think there’s going to be some trades before players going to the Olympics because teams aren’t going to want to wait until March 5 to position themselves.”

The Penguins, Kings and Sharks want to be active.

The Islanders want to keep Thomas Vanek, but if he doesn’t want to re-sign, they’ll move him. Teams have called, but GM Garth Snow has shot down all offers so far.

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff has been working the phones. The Jets are playing better under Paul Maurice, but they are still talking to teams about potential deals. Jets trade options include: Andrew Ladd, Evander Kane and Dustin Byfuglien. The Jets may only move one of those players.

The Coyotes, Kings and Canucks have called the Stars about Ray Whitney. Vernon Fiddler could also be dealt.

Rangers Dan Girardi isn’t close to re-signing and could be on his way out.

Maple Leafs Nazem Kadri’s name continues to be in the rumor mill with the emergence of Peter Holland.

Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News: Sabres GM Tim Murray wouldn’t say what will happen with any of their pending UFAs, but did say that he’s casually talked with Ryan Miller, Matt Moulson and Steve Ott. Murray did make it clear that they won’t be moved unless they get a significant return.

“I told them not to believe everything they read or everything they’ve heard on the sports channels. But certainly their names are in play and we’ll see what happens but it doesn’t guarantee they’ll be moved at all. For me, it’s all about return. These are good players. So if the return was up to a certain point and not great and we then decide we want to talk to them about staying, then that’s an option too.”

Murray said teams have contacted him to see what his plans are for the Sabres.

“There’s been lots of interaction, a lot of early talking,” he said. “There’s been no real specifics. I think teams are just trying to feel us out, feel me out on what we want to do. There’s certainly been discussions. I’m not sure there’s any artificial deadline. I think people are in a wait-and-see mode, to tell you the truth.

“People are concerned about injuries this far out. If a contending team makes their one big move and that guy is not available when he needs to be, there’s concern there from those teams. I’m really not sure a lot of teams want to pull off the big trade this far out. It could happen, but it doesn’t seem to me there’s any urgency right now.”

Jonas Siegel of TSN: Maple Leafs James Reimer wants to fight to get his No. 1 status back and has no intention of asking for a trade. Reimer will be a RFA at the end of the season and has arbitration rights. He could receive a raise and more than likely will be traded by next fall, if not sooner.

Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: The Penguins are tight up against the salary cap ceiling, so any deal will have to be money in, money out. Three defenseman trade targets for the Bruins could be Andrew MacDonald, Chris Phillips and Henrik Tallinder. It could be a quiet trade period as so many teams are up against the cap and have their own players re-sign this summer. Prices for rentals will be “stupid high” according to one executive. If Sabres GM Tim Murray is able to get another 1st round pick by trading any of Tallinder, Ryan Miller, Matt Moulson and Steve Ott, they could look to move one their current ones (their own, the new pick or the Islanders conditional 1st) for NHL ready player(s).

Foligno bros I think you are forgetting the twins have played on each others Side their hole lives

*

January 26, 2014 at 3:14 pm

Reimer might get more starts if he’d stop giving up goals.

Chris

January 26, 2014 at 3:17 pm

@jeff,

Yeah what’s with that? Is he solid? Sure but has he 44 points in 48 games emerged? Stupid Toronto media.

* no kidding. Last nights outing was awful. Reimer’s stock is definitely falling.

John

January 26, 2014 at 3:59 pm

I wish the guy would say what the sharks are looking for, I watch all their games, and the only thing I think they would need, once they are healthy is 1 top 4 D.

joe

January 26, 2014 at 4:57 pm

Gards – kulimen – fraser for eberle.

kuli would gel right away with yaks.

jeff

January 26, 2014 at 5:00 pm

That would be a steal for TML, but do they really need another offence-only winger?

hotwings

January 26, 2014 at 6:27 pm

eberle isnt offence only.. he is a good 2 way forward…

peter holland emerged? dunno, but he has played better than kadri most nights — need a larger sample size on holland before you can say he has ‘emerged’..

Chris

January 26, 2014 at 7:01 pm

I’m a Leaf fan and no way Edmonton does that deal. Gardiner would be part of any deal but you’d have to do better than Kulemin and Fraser. It would probably be something like Gardiner, Franson and a top six guy like Kadri or Lupul. Not sure that gets it done but it would start the conversation.

With that being said, the wing isn’t where the leafs need improvement. They need a legit #2 or #3 D man but good luck getting that right now. Leafs blue line is too young and inexperienced right now and need some steady leadership.

OmegaIsJust

January 27, 2014 at 10:46 am

Peter Holland has only “emerged” as far as being able to play in the NHL. He does not compare or even come close to Kadri’s skill set. So making Kadri expendable due to Holland is a joke. The only scenario where Kadri is traded is in return for a top 6 forward or top 4 defensemen.

Here is what I propose as far as trades in a strictly fantasy GM role…

A) James Reimer+ to Buffalo for Steve Ott.
James Reimer’s best asset as far as I’m concerned, is his likeability and utter joy for hockey. This is something invaluable to a team going through a rebuild. A player almost unscathed by media and poor team performance. He played very well for the Marlies in that role and as such with the Leafs and Brian Burke’s rebuild. With Buffalo most likely moving Ryan Miller, what better goalie than James Reimer to fill the role on a team starting a rebuild.
Reimer + 3rd for Ott.

B) Jake Gardiner + for Brayden Schenn.
It is no secret that Philadelphia is on the hunt for a puck moving d-man. Gardiner is definitely that. It’s also no secret Toronto covets a legit top line center. Acquiring a Stamkos or Tavaras is not going to happen but acquiring a potential top tier talent is more likely. By getting a player like Brayden Schenn, it allows the Leafs time to see if Bozak can out perform Schenn. If you go and get a #1 center outright it will not only destroy Bozak’s confidence but will also disrupt Phil Kessel’s personal life lol… those two are room mates and the best of friends. I think you must allow Bozak to remain the #1 until it’s too obvious there is someone better suited already on the team.

C) Nikolai Kulamin to Washington for a 2nd.
The Leafs will be in need of cap space to afford re-signing their own players, even with the rising cap. What better team to go to for Kulamin than Washington? Plus, there will need to be roster space for Steve Ott…

Who is this joker, of a writer? Leaf rumor mill, is all fan based anyway. I don’t listen to any “Leaf” fans, about trades. All of them sound stupid as hell. Kulemin, making $3M a season, and only adds 7-12 goals a year? WOW! Great player have there. My speculation, and yes, I am only SPECULATING. Franson, gives up the puck way too much, he is super slow, and you would think his size, he would lay the body. Trade him. Kulemin, I would get a bag of pucks to be honest, at least the pucks will see the back of the net. Reimer, trade him for a top 4 veteran D-man, someone who brings playoff experience, and maybe a pick as well. And lets talk about Clarkson, $5.25M for a player who has no idea where the puck is half the time, and is out half the year. Great pick up Leafs! Trade him, dump his salary, get a player like B.Shenn or Jeff Skinner, give that player $5.25M that WILL produce. Moving Holland to third line centre, Kadri 2nd and Bozak 1st. Enough said.